NEWARK, New Jersey – Dustin Poirier I’m not sure what’s next.
Going to UFC 302Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) considered what happened in Saturday’s title fight as “fate”. But now that he’s discovered that winning isn’t in the cards, Poirier struggles to decipher what it all means for his future.
While sitting on stage in his red “WAR” hat and floral shirt following his submission loss to Islam Makhachev, Poirier worked the debate out loud, even though he knew a decision wouldn’t come immediately.
“I was fighting to be world champion,” Poirier told MMA Junkie and other reporters in a post-fight press conference. “What else am I fighting for? Just to fight for the thrill – because I’m addicted to it, without a doubt… for the money? I am fine.
“My family and I are fine. I don’t need the money. Money is great, but my health comes first. What am I fighting for? Be champion again? Will I ever get that chance, even if it gets into a sequel? I don’t know. But it’s such a difficult mountain to climb and I’ve climbed it so many times.
Poirier, 35, is a perennial contender and showed elite skills during his main event against Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) at the Prudential Center. The fight was his third failed title defense.
“I’m 35 years old and I see and hear people say, ‘That’s not old.’ But I have 50 fights,” said Poirier. “I have been fighting since I was 17 years old. I fought my first cage fight when I was 18 years old. I have 10 fights that are not on my record. I just need to digest everything, talk to my family, talk to my coaches and see. There’s no rush, but this could be my last fight. I don’t know. I just need to get home and see what I’m fighting for.”
If Poirier had won and won the title, he thinks the decision would have been easier. The only unchecked box in your list would be checked. Now, the box remains empty, even though it is so close.
“That’s the problem,” Poirier said. “Tonight, if I had won this belt, I would be satisfied with everything I have done in this sport. But I didn’t reach the final goal. The reason I started fighting was to be undisputed champion. I didn’t understand. I don’t know. I don’t know.”
Fighting is a big part of Poirier’s identity. Filling the time, energy and effort will be impossible, he predicted.
“Nothing fills this void of competition that I’ve been doing for so long — the purity of it, the 1-on-1 combat, the preparation for myself,” Poirier said. “But fighting is a very selfish sport. I have withdrawn from the people I love, focusing so much on myself and trying to master this craft. I don’t know. It’s just a lot of things to weigh.”
Weigh in, Poirier will.
UFC CEO Dana White said that after Saturday’s event the promotion will always have a roster spot for him. It’s up to him if he wants to.
For more information on the card, visit the MMA Junkie events hub to UFC 302.
